Break The Line: Poverty Vs Potential At Martha O'bryan Center, Nashville Tennessee

In episode 6, we interview Jabari Batth, Site Coordinator of our RAP program's Rosebank Elementary School site, Fisk University graduate and owner of iStep Kidz, a company providing step dance enrichment.  Jabari tells us about the Step Team at the Rosebank RAP site, and we hear from the new capation of the team, Ja'Lisa, as well.  Jabari is also a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha fratenity, where he first learned how to step. You can learn more at: www.istepkidz.com (Jabari's company), NashvilleZ.org (NAZA, an enrichment provider that contracts with Jabari and is also partnered with Martha O'Bryan Center), Fisk.edu (Jabari's alma mater) and alpha-phi-alpha.com (his fraternity).

We speak with three AmeriCorps members at Martha O'Bryan Center --2 just starting their year of service learning, and one transitioning into employment with the Center after 2 years of AmeriCorps.  Amberly Dziesinski and Katie Condrey tell us about serving at our Academic Student Union, called Top Floor, at Stratford High School, and Elizabeth Jones tells us about serving with our Adult Education program.  We discuss learning and goals for a year of service, especially around relationship building.  You can learn more about AmeriCorps at www.americorps.gov, and apply to join AmeriCorps at Martha O'Bryan Cener at www.marthaobryan.org/jobs.

Traci Bryant, Director of our Early Learning Center, tells a story about a breakthrough with a mom.  Our Early Learning Center serves 88 children and their families.  Our younger students follow a creative curriculum, while our Pre-K students follow a Metro Schools curriculum for Kindergarten readiness. Our teachers are degreed professionals and our Center is among the 6% in the nation to be accreditted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

In epiosde 3, we speak with Daniel Smith, Director of Employment & Career Services at the Center, and MeSean Witcher, a chef and restaurant manager who participated in a culinary training program at Martha O'Bryan Center.  MeSean tells us about overcoming adversity to realize a better life for himself, his children and his community.  A former resident of Cayce Homes public housing, MeSean volunteers as a community activist with Cayce United, a nonprofit partner of the Center's that advocates for residents in the process of public housing redvelopment planning.  You can learn more about Cayce United at www.cayceunited.org

Jeremy Darvin tells his story at the Champion's Breakfast, and we listen with his mentor Patrick Walker-Reese.  Jeremy is a student and athlete at Father Ryan High School who found new potential for himself while attending the THRIVE program at Martha O'Bryan Center.

In our first episode, our CEO Marsha Edwards tells a stort about meeting people at our food bank who make lasting impressions.